Frank B’s 5-point play: LB Poly at Chino Hills
CHINO HILLS – Five observations after watching the Chino Hills High 89-78 CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinal victory over visiting Long Beach Poly Friday night:
*Huskies’ 6-foot-9 Onyeka Okongwu continued to show why he’s certainly the best prospect in the Class of 2019 in the west – and locations beyond – with his 23-point, 15-rebound, four-assist and two-blocked shot effort.
He’s a better all-around player right now than Marvin Bagley III was a year ago at Sierra Canyon High, when he was listed as a “junior” but later “re-classified” to the Class of 2017 and enrolled at Duke last summer.
*Andre Ball (PICTURED continued to showcase how rapidly he’s progressing during his 37-point effort for Chino Hills vs. the Jackrabbits.
He’ll be one of the half-dozen or so most hotly pursued unsigned members of the regional senior class members going into the April start of the NCAA’s spring signing period.
He’s an absolutely stunning vertical athlete.
*Nick Manor-Hall is the most under-appreciated college prospect on the Chino Hills roster. His playing time was miniscule during his freshmen and sophomore seasons as a Husky but he’s grown (some four or more inches since he was 6-foot-ish two years ago) and also become a consistent mid-range jump shooting threat for Coach Dennis Latimore.
*Darryl Polk Jr. of Poly, along with Jamal Hartwell of L.A. Fairfax, should be one of the two most-heavily recruited senior point guards in the sub-six foot range, based at Southland high schools this spring.
The left-hander’s speed and quickness on the dribble and ability to find open teammates and get them passes right where they require them are well beyond most other guards in the regional class.
*Despite the loss, the Jackrabbits will open State Division I regional playoff action on March 7.
But it’s easy to project Poly as having a terrific trio of guards next season in the presence of 2019 class members Malik Salahuddin, Justin Rene’ and Giordan Williams.